High number of motorcycle deaths: "If everyone drove like an old lady, this would have gone very well"

Norway is experiencing a concerning rise in motorcycle fatalities, with 15 riders killed in traffic accidents this year. The situation escalated dramatically in early July, when six motorcyclists lost their lives within a single week, from July 5th to the 11th. This stark figure highlights a significant increase in risk for motorcycle riders on Norwegian roads.

Trygg Trafikk, Norway's road safety organization, has issued a warning, suggesting that the current warm summer weather, while inviting for motorcycle rides, may also be contributing to increased risks. The organization implies that factors associated with the favorable weather conditions could be playing a role in the heightened accident rate.

All six individuals who died in July were men. While precise statistics on the gender distribution of all motorcyclists in Norway are difficult to pinpoint, data from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens Vegvesen) from the previous year indicates that women represent between 13 and 20 percent of those who have obtained motorcycle licenses (for light, medium, and heavy motorcycles) over the past decade. This suggests that while men are disproportionately represented among the fatalities, a notable percentage of riders are women.

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If everyone drove like an old lady, this would have gone very well.